Condenser



Dec. 5, 1950 J. R. HAYWARD 2,532,301

CONDENSER Filed Nov. 29, 1945 MLQJK' nflltjii 1 INVENTOR.

72/21 Z H g/ Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE commnsaa James II. Hayward, Washington, Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to McCord Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Maine Application November 29, 1945, Serial No. 631,540

4 Claims. (01. 257-262.11)

l This invention relates to finned tube heat exchangers.

More particularly, this invention relates to a side entry fin heat exchanger constructed and arranged for use as a condenser.

Certain, features of the invention have particular reference to a side entry fin condenser employing round tubing so as to make it possible to use the condenser in either a horizontal or vertical position or in any position intermediate horizontal and vertical.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide:

A new and improved finned tube heat exchanger;

A new and improved side entry fln condenser employing round tubing;

A new and improved form of fin for use in a side entry fin type of heat exchanger; and.

A new and improved means for securing fins to the tubing of a heat exchanger.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims. I also contemplate that of the several different features of my invention, certain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a condenser embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the condenser; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

A finned tube heat exchanger in the form of a condenser is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and comprises a length of tubing bent into serpentine form to provide a series of parallel runs connested in series by integral loops 2!. One end 24 of the tubing may comprise an inlet for the heat exchanger while the other end 28 may comprise adapted for use in a refrigerating system for liquifying the compressed refrigerant and is adapted to be exposed to air so as to permit the circulation of air thereover under either natural or forced draft.

The tubing employed is round in cross-section and may be made 'of copper. steel or other suitable material useful in a heat exchanger. The tubing has secured to it a series of fins 23, each fin comprising a flat strip of metal or other suitable material, which along one side edge 30 thereof is provided with a series of slots 32, the number of slots 32 and the spacing thereof corresponding with that of the runs 20 of the tubing. The fins 28 are formed from sheet or strip material by suitable dies so as to provide the slots 32 as well as the slot flanges 34 and 36.

The flanges 34 and 38 as formed project laterally from the faces of the fin 28, the flanges 34 projecting in one direction while the flanges 33 project in the opposite direction. It will be observed that the flanges 34 and 36 are formed only around part of the slot, namely, the bottom part thereof, although it will be apparent that .with a narrower fin, the flanges 34 and 35 might extend throughout the entire extent thereof. As initially formed in the fin, the flanges 34 and 36 are in the form of a U and are arranged at the sides of the slots 32 and the flns 28. The flanges 34 and 36 form troughs orseats for the tubing as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, and function to provide a good joint by means of which the tubing may be secured to the fins 28 in heat exchange relationship therewith.

The tubing employed may be solder coated so that after the fins 28 are arranged thereon as illustrated in Fig. 3, the soldencoatlng on the tubing may be melted in a brazing operation so as to integrally unite the tubing to the fins so that the fins will function as eflicient heat transfer surface for the tubing. Instead of integrally uniting the fins and the flanges thereof to the tubing by a brazing operation, any other suitable method may be employed.

As stated, the bottom of the flanges 34 and 3! form seats or troughs for seating the tubing while the ends 38 of the flanges 34 and 36 are separated from the fins and form tabs which are curled or deflected over the tubing on the open side of the slot so as to locate the runs 20 of the tubing in the seats provided in the bottom of the slots 32 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. In this manner, the tubing is firmly secured relative to each of the fins and in addition the flanges 34 and ti an outlet therefor. In the form shown, it is provide a good heat transfer Joint between the tubing and the fins proper 28. The width of the slots 82 closely approximates the outside diameter of the tubing. The arrangement of the flanges I4 and 28 functions to arrange the fins 28 normal to the runs 20 during the assembling operation of the fins to the tubing and also after the assembling is completed so that the flns 28 will be arranged substantially parallel to each other.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A heat exchanger comprising an elongated flat fin having a row of spaced slots in an edge thereof, each of said slots having a flange pro- Jecting laterally from said fin at the edge of said slot, a round tube extending through said slots fiat fin having a row of spaced slots in an edge thereof, each of said slots having a flange projecting laterally from said fin at the edge of said' slot, tubing extending through said slots, said flanges forming seats for said tubing, certain of said flanges projecting from a side of said fin opposite that from which other of said flanges project, said flanges having integral portions thereof deflected across said slots and toward the 4 closed end thereof into engagement with said tubing on the open side of said slot for securing said tubing in assembled relationship with said fin.

3. A heat exchanger comprising a flat fln having an open slot in an edge thereof, a round tube extending through said slot, said fln having an integral continuous flange portion at the inner end of said slot projecting laterally from said fln to form a seat for said tube, said flange portion having the ends thereof separated from said fln and deflected across said slot and toward the closed end thereof into engagement with said tube on the open side of said slot for securing said tube in assembled relation with said fln.

4. A heat exchange structure according to claim 3 wherein the deflected ends of said flange portion form tabs extending transversely of said slot and which tabs are of such size that said slot is substantially unobstructed outwardly of said ube.

JAMES R. HAYWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

